Inorganic chemistry plays a central and vital role in society, being the key to the operation and development of solar, nuclear, and traditional fossil fuel power sources, the discovery of new nanoscale materials and processes for the microelectronics industry, the production of feedstocks for the entire chemical industry, and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for human health The Gordon Conference on Inorganic Chemistry is a highly attractive conference because it covers a wide range of topics, so that attendees have opportunities to learn of exciting new results outside of their specialized areas of interest. The 2009 Gordon Conference on Inorganic Chemistry will feature cutting-edge research in organometallic, bioinorganic, materials, surface, and energy-related chemistry, and will include topics in main group, transition metal, and f-metal chemistry. Synthesis of new compounds and materials, their physical characterization, and their reactivity will be discussed. The Conference will provide special opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format, and to exchange ideas with leaders in the field from universities, industry, and national laboratories. The collegial atmosphere of this Conference, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists to network and brainstorm, and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the research areas represented.